Buses: Licensing

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  on how many occasions the traffic commissioners have granted or renewed PCV licences to people who have subsequently been found not to have fully declared their criminal records in the most recent period for which figures are available;
	(2)  on how many occasions the traffic commissioners revoked people’s passenger carrying vehicle licences on the grounds that at the time of original application or application for renewal they had not fully declared their criminal records in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Michael Penning: The traffic commissioners decisions are not held centrally or by reason and currently could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I have, however, asked my officials to look into the feasibility of holding these decisions centrally in the future.

Departmental Catering

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the House of Commons catering service plans to implement calorie labelling on menus and display boards.

John Thurso: The House of Commons catering service recognises that it has a role to play in encouraging people to choose healthier foods. It currently achieves this by using a 'traffic light' system of signposting healthier choices on its daily cafeteria menus and by running periodic 'healthy eating' promotions.
	Although the service currently has no plans to implement calorie labelling on menus and display boards, it is watching with interest the development of this initiative by the commercial catering organisations that have pledged to do so under the Government's 'Public Health Responsibility Deal' launched in March 2011.

Departmental Catering

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps the House of Commons Catering Service is taking to ensure the countries of origin of foods are labelled on its menus and display boards.

John Thurso: The House of Commons catering service recognises that the provenance of foods served in its restaurants is of interest to its customers, and its sustainable food procurement policy is being updated. The service does not plan to publish as a matter of course details about the countries of origin of foods on its menus and display boards, although the provenance of the main ingredient may sometimes be indicated in the description.

Employment Schemes

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were (a) referred to Workstep for support in retaining their existing job in each year in which the scheme operated and (b) referred to Work Choice since 2010.

Maria Miller: The Department did not collect data about individuals who have been referred to Workstep for support to retain their existing job.
	In line with UK Statistics Authority guidance we will be publishing official statistics on referrals to Work Choice in spring 2012.

Housing Benefit: Females

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2011, Official Report, column 396W, on housing benefit: females, how many lone parents receive local housing allowance in Wales; and what proportion of such claimants are female.

Steve Webb: The information requested on lone parents in Wales receiving housing benefit paid according to the local housing allowance scheme and the percentage that are female is provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Lone parents 
			  Local housing allowance tenants (LHA) Percentage that are female 
			 Wales 22,030 94.3 
			 Notes: 1. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Percentage has been rounded to the nearest decimal place. 3. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases. An extended payment is a payment that may be received for a further four weeks when they start working full time, work more hours or earn more money. 4. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. 5. The data is available monthly from November 2008 and August 2011 is the latest available. 6. For this analysis lone parents are those who are single with child dependant(s). 7. Caseload figure includes less than 1% of cases where gender is not recorded/missing, 8. Local housing allowance was introduced in the Private Deregulated sector from April 2008. The methodology for recording claimants within the statistics as either LHA/non-LHA is under review. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) Aug-11

Assets: Birmingham

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assets his Department owns in Birmingham; and what the book value is of each such asset.

Bob Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government leases two buildings in Birmingham. They are 5 St Philips Place, Colmore Row and 77 Paradise Circus. The leases for both properties are rack-rented operating leases and as such they have no asset value to the Department.

Council Tax

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of each representation he has received from local authorities on the need for changes to single person's council tax discount.

Bob Neill: All responses to the Government's consultation on Localising Council Tax Support will be considered and a summary of responses will be published shortly. However, as indicated by my noble Friend, Baroness Hanham, on 3 November 2011, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA292, the Government have already made it clear that it does not intend to make changes to the council tax single person discount scheme.

Council Tax

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people in each local authority area are eligible for the single person's discount on council tax.

Bob Neill: Details of the number of people in each local authority in England that are recorded as being in receipt of the single persons discount for council tax purposes as at 3 October 2011 are available on line 8 of the table “Council tax base local authority level data 2011” that is available on the Department for Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/counciltaxbase2011

Council Tax

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the cost of establishing local schemes for distributing council tax benefit in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 22 November 2011, Official Report, column 225W, to the right hon. Member for East Ham (Stephen Timms).

Council Tax Benefits: Expenditure

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the level of expenditure on council tax benefit in each local authority in 2010-11; and how much such expenditure was incurred in respect of (a) pensioner and (b) working age households in each such authority.

Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply.
	The information has been placed in the Library.

Departmental Catering

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether food and catering services in (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible plan to implement calorie labelling on menus and display boards.

Bob Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government and its public bodies' caterers are contracted to comply with Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services. Calorie labelling forms part of an evolving strategy to offer a choice of diet to our staff. Moving forward we are working with Department for Education on a shared services arrangement and negotiating a new total Facilities Management Contract which will be in place from April 2012. This contract will conform to Government Buying Solutions Standards and calorie labelling will form part of the new contract.
	This answer incorporates all of the Department and its associated public bodies with the exception of the Planning Inspectorate, where the information was not readily available.

Departmental Catering

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps the food and catering services in (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible are taking to ensure the countries of origin of foods are labelled on its menus and display boards.

Bob Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government and its public bodies' caterers are contracted to comply with Government Buying Standards for food and catering services and information on country of origin is available through the supply chain where requested. Moving forward we are negotiating a new total facilities management contract which will be in place from April 2012. This contract will conform to Government Buying Solutions Standards and we will work with the new catering supplier to improve the degree and quality of information provided to customers.
	This answer incorporates all of the Department and its associated public bodies with the exception of the Planning Inspectorate, where the information was not readily available.

Government Procurement Card

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth of 3 November 2011, Official Report, column 782W, on the Government Procurement Card, which Minister in his Department visited Auckland in March 2007; and what the purpose of the visit was.

Bob Neill: The then Under-Secretary of State (Angela E Smith), visited Auckland in March 2007 to attend the Commonwealth Local Government Conference 2007.

Housing: Finance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account his Department took of population variations between local authority areas in determining allocation of the New Homes Bonus.

Grant Shapps: The New Homes Bonus is based on the number of additional homes and those brought back into use, with a premium for affordable homes. Through the Bonus, local authority areas which are growing in population will have more resources to meet the needs and aspirations of new and existing residents.

Housing: Finance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons he (a) reduced the housing budget in 2010-11 and (b) increased the housing budget in 2011-12.

Grant Shapps: The last Administration left the biggest budget deficit in our peacetime history—with the state forecast to borrow £146 billion a year in 2010-11, or £400 million being borrowed every single day. This was unsustainable. The coalition Government, through the Emergency Budget and spending review, has taken steps to tackle this deficit, restoring market confidence. These measures will help eliminate the structural current deficit over the next five years. This will help keep interest rates down for home owners, restore economic stability and reduce the amount of taxpayers' money that would otherwise be spent on debt interest.
	Within the agreed public spending envelope, we have taken steps to support house building, given the important contribution it makes to economic growth and the need to build more homes in light of demographic change. This has included using departmental unallocated funding to support housing (e.g. the Growing Places Fund). We have also configured our housing policies to tackle the particular problems currently being faced in the housing market:
	Lenders are not lending enough—with high deposit requirements excluding young people and families from home ownership. Hence, we are promoting schemes such as Firstbuy, extending the Right to Buy and supporting a new and innovative new build indemnity scheme.
	Builders are not building—without consumers ready to buy, and without enough land for development or access to finance. Hence, we are promoting policies such as the Getting Britain Building investment fund and the Build Now, Pay Later programme for public sector land.
	We are also investing £4.5 billion in new affordable housing over the spending review period and £2.1 billion on Decent Homes to improve the condition of existing social housing.

Local Government: Land

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much (a) brownfield, (b) green belt and (c) green field land is owned by each local authority in England.

Bob Neill: holding answer 12 December 2011
	There were an estimated 5,350 hectares of brownfield land owned by local authorities in England in 2009, according to the National Land Use Database of Previously-Developed Land. A table showing the amounts and number of sites by local authority has been placed in the Library of the House.
	No information is available on the amount of local authority owned green belt or greenfield land.
	My Department is taking a series of steps to encourage the development and regeneration of brownfield sites, as outlined in my answer of 25 October 2011, Official Report, column 123W.

New Deal for Communities Scheme

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what work has been carried out in each borough under the New Deal for Communities scheme; and what work carried out under the New Deal for Communities scheme has been continued following the ending of the scheme.

Andrew Stunell: holding answer 25 November 2011
	A table providing a summary of priorities for each of the 39 New Deal for Communities areas and details of projects developed by the Communities partnerships for each area has been deposited in the Library of the House. The Department does not have a full picture of the completion of all projects across the programme, which is a matter for the individual partnerships, their successor bodies and, where different, the local authorities in those areas. The National Evaluation of the Communities programme, published in March 2010, concluded that the New Deal for Communities had delivered improvements and that, in general, they had narrowed the gaps with the rest of the country in relation to six broad themes; crime, health, worklessness, education, community cohesion, and housing and the environment. Three quarters of New Deal for Communities have agreed succession strategies so that the benefits and improvements made over the life of the programme can be sustained into the longer term.

Government: Ministerial Meetings

Peter Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 
	(1)  on what date she last met the Secretary of State for Transport to discuss the implications for Wales of High Speed 2;
	(2)  on what date she last had a bilateral meeting with the Cabinet Secretary to discuss matters relating to Wales; and if she will publish a minute of the meeting;
	(3)  on what date she last had a bilateral meeting with the Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform to discuss matters relating to Wales; and if she will publish a minute of the meeting;
	(4)  on what date she last met the Government Spokesperson for Welsh Affairs in the House of Lords; and if she will publish a minute of the meeting;
	(5)  on what date she last met the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to discuss the effects of the Government's Work Programme on Wales;
	(6)  on what date she last met the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss the implications for Wales of his Autumn Statement;
	(7)  on what date she last met the Home Secretary to discuss levels of crime in Wales;
	(8)  on what date she last had a bilateral meeting with each other Cabinet Minister to discuss matters relating to Wales; and if she will publish a minute of each meeting;
	(9)  on how many occasions she has met the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to discuss the implications for Welsh businesses of the proposed abolition of the feed-in tariff;
	(10)  on what date she last met the Secretary of State for Justice to discuss prisons in Wales.

Cheryl Gillan: Both the Under-Secretary of State for Wales, my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd West (Mr Jones), and I regularly meet ministerial colleagues and senior officials across Government to discuss matters of importance to Wales. In line with the practice of successive Administrations, information relating to internal advice and discussion is not normally disclosed.

Afghanistan: Females

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with the Afghan government on the involvement of women in the political processes at all levels in Afghanistan;
	(2)  if he will press the Afghan government to ensure that women have an effective voice and role in all levels of the peace process in that country.

Alistair Burt: At the International Conference on Afghanistan in Bonn on 5 December, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), stated that:
	“The principle of inclusiveness is vital, so that all Afghanistan's people have a stake in the country's future”.
	The Conference, chaired by Afghanistan, agreed a clear set of guiding principles for the reconciliation process and its outcomes and also an inclusive, representative peace process. The Conference also made clear that the fundamental rights of women and children are key for Afghanistan's future.
	The Government's International Violence Against Women Champion, the Minister for Equalities, the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone), also attended the Civil Society Forum on Afghanistan held in Bonn on 2-3 December, where she reiterated the UK Government's commitment to an inclusive political process in Afghanistan and the importance of the protection of Afghan women's rights.
	We will continue to make clear to the Government of Afghanistan that any political process should be inclusive and address the concerns of all Afghan citizens.

Departmental Audit

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria (a) his Department and (b) its public bodies use when deciding whether and when to hold an internal audit; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Internal Audit Department provides internal audit services to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, its Executive Agency (Wilton Park) and Trading Fund (FCO Services). This activity provides their Accounting Officers with an overall opinion on risk management, control and governance arrangements, as required by HM Treasury. For each of these bodies a discrete annual programme of work is agreed with their Audit Committee and the Permanent Under-Secretary (FCO) or Chief Executives of FCO Services and Wilton Park, as appropriate. The criteria used for deciding what to audit and when is as follows.
	FCO
	FCO Internal Audit works in the context of the FCO's risk management framework, an approach generally known as Risk Based Internal Auditing. There is an annually agreed strategy setting out which areas of the FCO should be audited. There are two distinct approaches within the strategy: one for the risks in the UK and the other for overseas risk. For the home programme the strategy takes account of FCO risk registers, known and expected business change, input from FCO Directors and the risk of fraud and reputational damage. For the overseas network a risk model is used to help prioritise Posts in terms of risk. Within any given year, the timing of an actual audit is at the discretion of the auditor leading it unless management has expressed a particular view (i.e. because of the timing of other reviews or anticipated changes to the systems in question). Other issues around timing include logistics and, overseas, security. FCO Internal Audit also conduct some audits without notice.
	FCO Services
	The methodology for selecting audits is very similar to the FCO except that FCO Services adopts a three year strategy (with an annual review) .and audits are carried out exclusively in the UK. The methodology to populate the strategy with individual audits is risk based and takes account of FCO Services risk registers, discussion with Senior Management, forward objectives, Key Performance Indicators and a review of other sources of assurance. Within any given year the timing of an actual audit is at the discretion of the auditor leading it unless management has expressed a particular view which it would be sensible to accommodate.
	Wilton Park
	FCO Internal Audit prepares a three year strategy which is then reviewed and approved each year by the Audit Committee and Chief Executive. The methodology to populate the strategy with individual audits is risk based and takes account of business changes and input from the Finance and Operations Directors. It takes account of the risk of fraud and reputational damage and considers all other sources of assurance. Audits are carried out exclusively in the UK and the exact timing of an audit is a collaborative decision involving Wilton Park senior staff and the lead auditor. Timing takes into account seasonal peaks in business activity and the availability of audit staff.

Economic and Monetary Union

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for New Forest East of 29 November 2011, Official Report, column 863W, on Europe: politics and government, what assessment he has made of the potential effects of fiscal union between the states of the Eurozone on the maintenance of (a) elected, (b) representative and (c) democratic governments in those states; what discussions he had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on such effects, prior to the Government recommending fiscal union for the states of the Eurozone; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: It is for each individual country of the Eurozone to assess the effects of fiscal union on these three issues. The UK remains committed to both a strong and stable Eurozone and to liberal democratic values. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Treasury ministerial teams work very closely in developing policy on the EU.

European Union: Treaties

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any new European Treaty will be subject to a referendum.

David Lidington: Under the European Union Act 2011, any Treaty change which transfers competence or power from the UK to the EU will require a referendum of the British people. The EU Act clearly defines what is meant by a transfer of competence or power.

Japan: Whales

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many discussions he has had with the Japanese ambassador on Japan's annual whaling hunt.

Jeremy Browne: This Government support the International Whaling Commission (IWC) moratorium on commercial whaling because it believes strongly that the annual whaling hunt involves unacceptable cruelty. Although the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has not had the opportunity to raise this issue with the current ambassador of Japan, both he and I raised it during our visits to Japan late last year. Ministers and senior officials will continue to convey our concerns with the Japanese Government when suitable opportunities arise.

Libya: Arms Trade

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will press the new Libyan authorities to ensure that the terms of the compensation package to be offered to victims of the IRA's Libyan supplied semtex campaign do not distinguish between those police or military personnel killed on duty and those off duty at the time of the attacks.

Alistair Burt: Properly addressing legacy issues will be an important part of the UK's relationship with Libya. I raised this with the Libyan Transitional Government during my visit to Tripoli on 6 to 8 December. I made clear our desire to see progress on outstanding issues from the Gaddafi era. The newly appointed Foreign Minister Ashour Ben Khayyal agreed that we would take forward discussions on this.
	The campaigns seeking compensation for IRA victims are private. The terms of the campaigns and the range of victims are therefore also private. However, we understand at this stage that no settlement has been made.

Saudi Arabia: Politics and Government

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the findings of the report by Amnesty International entitled Saudi Arabia: Repression in the name of Security; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Amnesty international Report on Saudi Arabia summarises the current human rights situation in Saudi Arabia. It covers the draft anti-terror law, detentions and trials, and freedom of expression. Our embassy in Riyadh has been engaged in a dialogue with the Saudi Arabian Government on these issues for some time. There is widespread acceptance in the Saudi Government and Saudi human rights organisations that the draft anti-terror law is unsuitable in its present form: the current draft is extremely unlikely to pass into law. Our embassy has raised the issue of arbitrary detentions with the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Justice and has been given permission to attend a forthcoming terror trial.
	We have asked the Saudi authorities for more information with regard to the case referred to in the Report, which concerns 16 men convicted under anti-terror legislation to sentences ranging from five to 30 years, before we determine our next course of action. Freedom of expression concerns largely relate to the periods of unrest in the Eastern Province this year. Following the most recent outbreak of unrest in November, we note the Saudi Arabian Government issued a statement that security forces have been instructed to exercise restraint. We welcome the willingness of Saudi human rights organisations to engage with Amnesty on human rights concerns, which will raise awareness of the progress made by Saudi Arabia to date and give greater clarity on the requirements for further reform.

Sergei Magnitsky

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has given any consideration to bringing forward proposals similar to the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act proposed in the US Congress.

David Lidington: We are aware of the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, introduced to the U.S Congress in 2011, which if passed, would see sanctions imposed on Russian officials allegedly responsible for the detention, abuse, or death of Sergei Magnitsky.
	The Immigration Rules enable us to refuse a visa where, for example, information on an individual's character, conduct or associations makes entry to the UK undesirable. However, the UK has a long established practice of not commenting routinely on individual visa cases.

Turkey: Human Rights

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his contribution of 9 November 2011, Official Report, column 304, on the middle-east and North Africa, what discussions he had with the President of Turkey on (a) human rights and (b) the Kurdish minority in Turkey.

David Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), did not have any substantive meetings with the President of Turkey during the state visit.
	During the state visit there were several meetings between members of the Government and members of the Turkish delegation. A very wide range of topics was discussed. We do not reveal the details of private diplomatic exchanges.
	Our embassy in Ankara regularly raises human rights with the relevant Turkish authorities. We will continue to monitor developments in human rights and issues surrounding the Kurdish minorities.

Zimbabwe: Diamonds

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his UN counterparts on the decision to lift the embargo on the sale of diamonds originating from Zimbabwe; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the decision on the sanctions regime that has been placed on Zimbabwe.

Henry Bellingham: The EU who represents Britain in the Kimberley Process (KP) had discussions with all 50 KP participants ahead of the KP Plenary meeting in Kinshasa in November. I have discussed diamond exports from the Marange region of Zimbabwe with the Governments of South Africa, the United States of America and Belgium.
	The Kinshasa agreement does not impact on the EU Restricted Measures which are up for their annual review by the EU 27 member states in February 2012.

Antisocial Behaviour

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to publish the response to her Department’s consultation entitled More effective responses to anti-social behaviour.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has received over 1,000 written responses to the consultation from the police and other front-line professionals, members of the judiciary, local authorities, interest groups and members of the public. We want to ensure that our proposals reflect that wealth of knowledge and expertise, and will publish our response in due course.

Domestic Violence

Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the classification and recording of convictions for offences against a partner as domestic violence offences.

Lynne Featherstone: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) already record domestic violence convictions. The recently published CPS Violence Against Women and Girls Crime Report shows that in the last year (2010-11) the proportion of defendants convicted for domestic violence offences has stayed steady at 72%, against an 11 % increase both the volume of defendants prosecuted (82,187) and convicted (59,101).

Habitual Residence Test

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the habitual residence test.

Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
	We have strict rules in place to prevent abuse of the benefit system and to prevent benefit tourism. One of the principal measures is the habitual residence test. The test ensures that people coming from abroad can only access income-related benefits if they have a right to reside and are habitually resident in the Common Travel Area(1). The Department for Work and Pensions is considering all the details of the European Commission's Reasoned Opinion against the right to reside element of the habitual residence test, and is committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure the UK retains control of its welfare policies.
	(1) The UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland.

Immigrants: Detainees

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the detention data tables Immigration Statistics April-June 2011 table dt.07.q, for what reasons each of the 74 individuals detained for more than 24 months has not been removed from the UK.

Damian Green: The following table sets out the total length of stay in the UK of the 74 individuals detained for more than 24 months referred to in the Immigration Statistics April to June 2011.
	
		
			 Length of time (in years) in the UK based on first application raised Number of individuals 
			 3 7 
			 4 7 
			 5 13 
			 6 5 
			 7 6 
			 8 10 
			 9 7 
			 10 4 
			 11 5 
			 12 3 
			 13 1 
			 14 1 
			 15 1 
			 17 2 
			 18 1 
			 20 1 
		
	
	The following table sets out the reasons why the 74 individuals detained for more than 24 months referred to in the Immigration Statistics April to June 2011, had not been removed from the UK. As the table shows, five of the individuals have now been removed from the UK. This information is taken from internal management information and is subject to change.
	
		
			 Barriers to removal Number of individuals 
			 Travel document 39 
			 Appeals 6 
			 Children issues 1 
			 Country situation 1 
			 Nationality not confirmed 1 
			 Judicial review 15 
			 Awaiting removal: multiple barriers 4 
			 Rule 39(1) 2 
			 Removed 5 
			 (1) This is a request to the European court of human rights (under rule 39) that an applicant should not be removed from the UK. 
		
	
	Of the 74 individuals detained for more than 24 months referred to in the Immigration Statistics April to June 2011, 53 lodged an appeal against their deportation. In addition to this:
	29 individuals submitted a judicial review (JR) against unlawful detention.
	five submitted a JR on HR grounds.
	five submitted a JR against unlawful detention and on HR grounds.
	To determine in which court those of the 74 individuals detained for more than 24 months referred to in the Immigration Statistics April to June 2011 have lodged an appeal against detention or removal would require the examination of individual case files which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Immigration

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Agency intends to resolve the case of Mr Garfield Rainford.

Damian Green: In order to safeguard an individual's personal information and comply with the data protection Act 1998, the UK Border Agency is unable to provide an update on an individual case when responding to a parliamentary question. The UK Border Agency will write to the right hon. Member to provide an update on the case.

Rohypnol

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to reduce the illegal use of Rohypnol; and what awareness campaigns she proposes to run;
	(2)  what studies her Department has undertaken on the illegal use of Rohypnol;
	(3)  whether she has recently reviewed the classification of the drug Rohypnol;
	(4)  what assessment she has made of recent trends in the illegal use of Rohypnol.

James Brokenshire: Flunitrazepam (‘Rohypnol’), together with the other benzodiazepines, is a class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs informs the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), and keeps under review the situation in the UK with respect to controlled drugs, including benzodiazepines. Its report “Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault” (2007) considered the use of benzodiazepines and indicated that adequate controls are in place for these drugs. The report is available at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/alcohol-drugs/drugs/acmd1/drug-facilitated-sexual-assault/
	This Government are committed to tackling sexual offences, and other forms of violence against women and girls. The 2003 Sexual Offences Act makes it a separate offence to give someone any substance without their consent and with the intention of stupefying them so that sexual activity can take place. We are also working closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers to look at ways to improve police investigations of rape, including cases where drugs are a contributing factor.
	The Government’s Drug Strategy sets out a multifaceted approach to tackling drug use under three themes: reducing demand, restricting supply and building recovery.
	FRANK, the drug information and advice service, has information on tranquillisers (which includes Rohypnol) available on its website at:
	www.talktofrank.com
	We are currently running a campaign to promote the FRANK service.

UK Border Agency: Security

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at which points of entry the UK Border Force used Level 2 security checks under her pilot scheme of summer 2011 to screen (a) EEA and (b) non-EEA passengers attempting to enter the UK; how often it used such checks; and on what dates.

Damian Green: The Level 2 risk based pilot measures applied to EEA nationals were available to all UK ports. The following ports made use of them between 29 July and 4 November 2011:
	Aberdeen Airport
	Edinburgh Airport
	Manchester Airport
	Belfast International Airport
	East Midlands Airport
	Newcastle Airport
	Birmingham Airport
	Gatwick Airport
	Newhaven Ferry Port
	Bournemouth Airport
	Glasgow Airport
	Norwich International Airport
	Bristol Airport
	Harwich Ferry Terminal
	Plymouth Ferry Terminal
	Brussels
	Heathrow Airport
	Poole Ferry Terminal
	Calais
	Leeds Bradford Airport
	Portsmouth Ferry Terminal
	Cardiff Airport
	Liverpool John Lennon Airport
	Prestwick Airport
	Coquelles
	London City Airport
	Stansted Airport
	Dunkerque
	London Luton Airport
	The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has ordered an investigation into all the circumstances relating to the relaxation of border controls. It would be inappropriate to release any further information at this stage.

Hospital Beds

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 30 November 2011, Official Report, columns 960-2W, on hospital beds, if he will assess the reasons for delayed hospital discharge in May 2010.

Paul Burstow: Monthly delayed transfers of care data have been collected since August 2010. Prior to August 2010 delayed transfers of care data were weekly unvalidated management information. The equivalent monthly data for May 2010 have been provided in the following tables, which are the weekly snapshot of patient numbers at midnight on Thursday in the week ending 30 May 2010.
	
		
			 Delayed transfers of care (DTOC) by reason, England 
			 England level data  Number of patients with a DTOC at midnight on the last Thursday of the month Number of delayed days during the reporting period 
			 Type of care Reason for delay NHS Social care Both NHS Social care Both 
			 Acute — 1,525 439 125 — — — 
			 Non-acute — 942 773 128 — — — 
			         
			 Acute (A) Awaiting completion of assessment 281 119 95 — — — 
			  (B) Awaiting public funding 31 35 4 — — — 
			  (C) Awaiting further non-acute (including PCT and mental health) NHS care (including intermediate care, rehabilitation services etc) 551 0 0 — — — 
			  (Dii) Awaiting nursing home placement or availability 105 72 14 — — — 
		
	
	
		
			  (Di) Awaiting residential home placement or availability 65 92 0 — — — 
			  (E) Awaiting care package in own home 53 106 9 — — — 
			  (F) Awaiting community equipment and adaptations 51 6 3 — — — 
			  (G) Patient or family choice 348 9 0 — — — 
			  (H) Disputes 14 0 0 — — — 
			  (I) Housing—patients not covered by NHS and Community Care Act 26 0 0 — — — 
			         
			 Non-acute (A) Awaiting completion of assessment 113 155 49 — — — 
			  (B) Awaiting public funding 61 90 28 — — — 
			  (C) Awaiting further non-acute (including PCT and mental health) NHS care (including intermediate care, rehabilitation services etc) 144 0 0 — — — 
			  (Dii) Awaiting nursing home placement or availability 106 102 20 — — — 
			  (Di) Awaiting residential home placement or availability 101 199 0 — — — 
			  (E) Awaiting care package In own home 28 152 27 — — — 
			  (F) Awaiting community equipment and adaptations 46 18 4 — — — 
			  (G) Patient or family choice 205 45 0 — — — 
			  (H) Disputes 31 12 0 — — — 
			  (I) Housing—patients not covered by NHS and Community Care Act 107 0 0 — — — 
		
	
	
		
			   Number of patients with a DTOC at midnight on the last Thursday of the month Number of delayed days during the reporting period 
			 Acute — 2,089 — 
			 Non-acute — 1,843 — 
			 Total — 3,932 — 
			 Notes: 1. Summary: Delayed transfers of care (DTOC) by who the delay is attributable to (NHS, Social care or Both) and by the reasons for the delay. 2. Period: May 2010 Source: Unify2 data collection—WSitDT (week ending 30 May 2010)

Mental Health Services

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to meet each of the six shared objectives contained in his Department's mental health outcomes strategy;
	(2)  what meetings he has had with ministerial colleagues on cross-Government steps to achieve each of the six shared objectives contained in his Department's mental health outcomes strategy.

Paul Burstow: There have been no formal meetings between the Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), and Ministers in other Government Departments in relation to implementation of the mental health strategy.
	Officials across all the relevant Government Departments meet regularly to co-ordinate activity and implementation of the strategy.
	The strategy's objectives are designed to be seen together, building a coherent picture of better mental health outcomes, rather than being seen in isolation. Much of the work currently under way will help to meet the strategy's objectives as a whole. Examples include:
	the recently-published ‘NHS Operating Framework for 2012-13’ which highlights mental health services and specifically ‘No health without Mental Health’ and makes it clear that this should be a priority for primary care trust commissioning.
	ensuring that mental health is reflected in the outcomes framework for the national health service, and in the outcomes framework for public health and the draft framework for adult social care.
	working, alongside the NHS Confederation and others, to support the implementation through the introduction of Payment by Results and improved outcome measures for mental health.
	work across Government to address the wider determinants of mental health.
	We have established a ministerial advisory group for the mental health strategy to work in partnership to realise the strategy. This group includes senior representation from other Government Departments.
	In October 2011, this group agreed proposals to develop an implementation framework for the strategy. This will be produced by a number of national mental health organisations, in partnership with Government. The framework is due for publication in spring 2012.
	The group receives regular updates on the wide range of work which contributes to meeting the objectives of the strategy. Meeting papers and minutes for this group are published on the Department's website:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_127788

Occupational Health: Research

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment has he made of levels of support for research into occupational health.

Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
	HSE has a budget of £11 million for applied research in 2011-12 and the major part is devoted to occupational health. Further details can be found on the HSE website at:
	http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/content/science-plan-2011.pdf
	HSE's occupational research programme is informed by contacts with other funding bodies active in this area to identify synergies and potential gaps in knowledge.

FIFA: Corruption

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the findings of the International Olympic Committee investigation into corruption within FIFA; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), and I are aware of the recent action that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board has taken following the IOC Ethics Committee's investigation of cash payments received by two IOC members from a sports marketing agency. I applaud the IOC for their efforts in this area. We are also aware that one of those members is a standing FIFA committee member and urge FIFA to deliver on the reform process announced earlier this year.

Olympic Games 2012

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what representations he has received on the long-term benefits of the London 2012 Olympic games opening ceremony to the economy.

Hugh Robertson: The Olympic opening ceremony, as well as the other Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies, are a unique opportunity to showcase the best of the UK to a global audience and boost the games business and tourism legacy. It is estimated that the ceremonies will broadcast to an audience of 4 billion people, and could be worth up to £5 billion in advertising value.

Olympic Games 2012

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what information his Department holds on in which country is the London 2012 Olympic flame burner will be manufactured.

Hugh Robertson: The London 2012 Organising Committee has confirmed that both the Olympic torch and cauldron are designed, manufactured and engineered by UK companies. They will showcase British creativity, ingenuity, and production across the UK and around the world. The Olympic torch is designed in Hackney, engineered in Basildon and manufactured in Coventry. Only one small part inside the cauldron will be supplied by a company outside the UK following a competitive tender process.

Olympic Games 2012: Wales

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the legacy for Wales of the London 2012 Olympic games.

Hugh Robertson: Wales and the whole of the UK are already benefiting from the economic, sporting and cultural opportunities generated by the 2012 games, with 848 schools and colleges in Wales already registered as part of the London 2012 education programme “Get Set”. 79 projects in Wales have also been awarded the Inspire Mark, including Criw Cymru, a project run in partnership with Galeri, Caernarfon and Theatre Brycheiniog in Brecon.
	In addition, 10 businesses registered in Wales have won work directly supplying the Olympic Delivery Authority. These include Euroclad, which provided the external cladding for the Olympic stadium and Williamson Technical Services which provided specialist site services for the stadium. Many other businesses based in Wales have secured contracts to supply goods or services within the London 2012 supply chain. I am sure that you would join me in congratulating these companies on securing London 2012 contracts.

Agricultural Products

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage UK businesses to buy agricultural products produced in the UK.

James Paice: The Government are supportive of a competitive agricultural industry, and DEFRA’s first business plan commitment is to 'support and develop British farming and encourage sustainable food production'. This is embedded in much of the work that the Department carries out.
	Within Government we have introduced new guidance on sustainable food procurement so that Government Departments source food, subject to no overall increase in costs, that meets British or equivalent standards of production—for example 'Red Tractor'.
	We have also encouraged the voluntary code for the labelling of certain products with the true country of origin and supported the EU food Information Regulation which makes country of origin labelling mandatory for fresh meat. EU rules prevent the Government from promoting “Buy British” campaigns, however the Levy Boards do carry out promotional campaigns on behalf of UK producers.

Agriculture: Apprentices

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had on increasing the number of apprenticeships in the agricultural sector.

James Paice: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), has discussed apprenticeships in the agricultural sector within her wider discussions on the food chain with the Food and Drink Federation, the Farmers’ Club, IGD Policy Issues Council and the Women’s Food and Farming Union. The ministerial team have also had discussions with the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink and the IGD skills group on a number of issues including apprenticeships.

Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency: South West

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to address the concerns raised by the National Farmers Union on the effectiveness of the operation of the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency in the South West.

James Paice: AHVLA need to make significant efficiency savings to meet their spending review targets in future years. The restructuring of their operations in the South West is one aspect of this work and includes consolidating some of the administrative work in Exeter. Similar changes have been undertaken in other regions previously, and have delivered significant efficiency savings without negative service impacts. The Agency is confident that the same benefits can be achieved in the South West once changes are fully in place.
	Up to the end of September performance in most areas in the region was improving. Ongoing problems with the new IT system (Sam) functionality, which went live at the end of September 2011, have unfortunately had an adverse impact on the quality of some services.
	To address service issues, experienced staff are working overtime and additional temporary staff have been employed to support activities. Performance standards are now improving.
	Key stakeholders such as the South West NFU are being kept informed by AHVLA managers at regional meetings and via regular verbal updates.

Animal Welfare: Slaughterhouses

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 3 October 2011, Official Report, column 1404W, on slaughterhouses: CCTV, what specific steps she is taking to prevent breaches of the law in slaughterhouses; and if she will make it her policy to report on progress in the implementation of such steps.

James Paice: I can confirm we remain committed to ensuring high standards of welfare in all slaughterhouses and abuse of animals anywhere, including slaughterhouses, is unacceptable.
	Welfare in slaughterhouses is currently subject to the requirements of the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995, which are enforced in slaughterhouses by the Food Standards Agency acting on behalf of the Secretary of State. DEFRA and the Food Standards Agency are working closely on how this issue is to be resolved, including the development of an Enforcement Strategy to make clear what steps will be taken in the event of animal welfare breaches being found. The Food Standards Agency has also recently completed a survey of animal welfare standards in slaughterhouses, which will be published in early 2012.
	Council Regulation 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing comes into effect on 1 January 2013. This requires us to lay down rules on penalties which are effective, proportionate and dissuasive. We are currently developing proposals for implementation and are considering the role administrative and financial penalties might play alongside criminal prosecutions for welfare breaches. Our aim will be to ensure sanctions can be applied in a way that ensures immediate action is taken to resolve the issue, or halts production until the problem has been addressed. We will consult on these proposals in the normal way next year.
	Many slaughterhouses have, or are in the process of, installing CCTV and this is to be welcomed. Regulation 1099/2009 introduces new monitoring requirements in slaughterhouses and CCTV does have an important role to play alongside other methods, in providing inconspicuous monitoring. Our review of the role CCTV can play, including consideration of whether CCTV should be made mandatory, is continuing in that context.

Dairy Farming: Animal Welfare

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has received interim findings of the research which her Department commissioned the Scottish Agricultural College to undertake on the management and welfare of continuously housed dairy cows; when she plans to publish the results of that research; whether the Government plans to issue a response to the research after it is published; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The submission of the final report, which will include details of the critical phase of the analysis, has been delayed as a result of difficulties in obtaining all the necessary data on continuously housed dairy farming in the UK. However, we are now expecting to receive a substantive update from the researchers at the end of the year. The Department intends to publicise the results along with any necessary commentary in due course. I would be happy to place a copy of these in the Library of the House as soon as they are available.

Flood Control

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the Pitt Review Working Group to report on the potential of natural flood management.

Richard Benyon: Sir Michael Pitt's recommendation was that DEFRA, the Environment Agency and Natural England should work with partners to establish a programme through Catchment Flood Management Plans and Shoreline Management Plans to achieve greater working with natural processes. In response, the Environment Agency and DEFRA established a working group to improve the understanding of natural processes in flood and coastal erosion risk management. In March 2010, this working group published guidance for practitioners which includes examples of good practice. This is available on the Environment Agency's website at:
	http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/PDF/GEHO0310BSFI-E-E.pdf
	A final report, which includes a summary of progress to date and suggestions of where further work would be beneficial, will be published at the end of March 2012.

Food: Waste

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to reduce levels of household food waste.

James Paice: The Government are providing advice to consumers through WRAP’s “Love Food Hate Waste” campaign, working with the industry to improve products and practices that help households waste less through the Courtauld Commitment, and developing the evidence-base on food waste causes and quantities.
	In September, DEFRA published guidance on food date markings. This will help manufacturers apply clearer and consistent dates, making it easier for consumers to understand the meaning of the markings, and therefore reducing food waste.
	On 15 November, WRAP announced a 1.1 million tonne, or 13%, reduction in annual UK household food waste since 2006.

Sustainable Development: EU Action

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made in implementing the EU Sustainable Development Strategy.

James Paice: In February this year, the Government announced their vision for mainstreaming sustainable development (SD) and ensuring that our policies take account of social, environmental and economic factors. Through this package we lead by example to reduce the impact of the Government estate on the environment and ensure that we procure more efficient and sustainable products. We engage with suppliers to understand and reduce the impacts of supply chains, while providing information and support for businesses and communities to do the same.
	The UK is making good progress in developing and implementing policies that align with the objectives of the EU SD Strategy, and demonstrate the Government's commitment to a sustainable future.
	In June, DEFRA published the Natural Environment White Paper which recognised that a healthy, properly functioning natural environment is the foundation of sustained economic growth, prospering communities and personal wellbeing. The White Paper sets outs an ambitious programme of action covering the next 50 years and ensures that the value of nature is properly taken into account when developing policies.
	At an international level, DEFRA is leading on preparations for the Rio+20 conference on SD in 2012, working with our EU partners to ensure ambitious and action-focused outcomes are achieved next year. The Government will continue to work closely with other countries to ensure that SD remains at the top of the EU and international agenda.

Freight: Tees Valley

Helen Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse is of constructing and developing the Tees Multimodal Bio-Freight Terminal.

Mark Prisk: I have been asked to reply.
	A conditional award has been made to developing the Tees Multimodal Bio-Freight Terminal project in round 1 of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF). The final amount of public RGF funding for this project will be released when the company complete their due diligence and receive a final grant offer letter which is expected by end December.

Income Tax: Leicester

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many residents in Leicester South constituency paid income tax at the 50 pence rate in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Gauke: An estimated 308,000 taxpayers are liable to Income tax at the 50% additional rate in the United Kingdom in 2011-12. In the East Midlands, which contains the Leicester South constituency the estimate is 12,000. These and estimates for other UK Government office regions are published on the HMRC website in tables 2.1 and 2.2 which are available at the following addresses;
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-1.pdf
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-2.pdf
	Reliable estimates are not available at the parliamentary constituency level, due to greater uncertainties in projections for small geographical areas and small sample sizes.
	These estimates are based on the 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2011 economic and fiscal outlook.
	Estimates of income and tax by parliamentary constituency for 2007-08 and preceding years are available in table 3.1 5:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm

Revenue Customs: Telephone Services

Steve Brine: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Shipley of 6 July 2010, Official Report, column 513W, on Revenue and Customs: telephone numbers, what the terms of reference are of his Department's review of its telephone numbering strategy; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: HMRC initiated an internal and informal review of it's numbering strategy for customer facing helplines in January 2010 with the twin objectives of:
	reducing the cost to vulnerable customers of calling HMRC, where that can be delivered at an appropriate balance with HMRC costs and business performance;
	improving the sustainability of it's Contact Centre business, by anticipating and mitigating future business costs associated with its numbering strategy.
	The Government subsequently accepted the recommendations of the Treasury Sub-Committee in their 16th report “Administration and effectiveness of HM revenue and Customs” (HC731) published on 30 July 2011 that HMRC investigate alternatives to 0845 numbers, including 0345 and freephone numbers, as part of the process of agreeing its next telephony(due in June 2013) and that as an that as an interim measure the Department should examine whether a non-0845 number could be provided for tax credit claimants.
	The full text of the Government response was published by the Committee on 26 October 2011 (HC1533) and is available at
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmtreasy/1533/153303.htm
	Additionally and further to my answer to the hon. Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) of 19 October 2011, Official Report, column 967W, I can now confirm that HMRC introduced a new 0345 prefixed number for its tax credit helpline on 8 December 2012.

Working Tax Credit: Females

Jessica Morden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people who receive working tax credits in Wales; and what proportion of these are female.

David Gauke: The following table shows the gender breakdown of households receiving working tax credit in Wales:
	
		
			 Number of in-work households benefiting from working tax credit in Wales, by gender 
			  Thousand 
			 Single female 72.9 
			 Single male 16.1 
			 Couple 169.3 
			 Total 258.3

Crimes of Violence: Ex-servicemen

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information his Department holds on the number of former armed service personnel who were convicted of violent offences in each year since 1997.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought but not all the circumstances of each case. It is not possible to identify from this centrally held court proceedings information whether a defendant was formerly a member of Her Majesty's armed forces.
	However, in January 2010, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and Ministry of Defence (MOD) published the initial results of a joint study to estimate how many prisoners in England and Wales had been in the regular armed forces. In September 2010 a more detailed report was published.
	These reports were based on a one off study, matching MOJ prison population and MOD veterans' data to estimate the number of veterans in prison as at 6 November 2009. A similar one-off study was carried out to estimate the number of veterans under Probation Service supervision, with results published on 16 March 2011; the scope of this study did not include estimating the number of court reports relating to former armed service personnel.
	All of these reports can be found under the Veterans section of the Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) website:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk//applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=66&pubType=3

Reoffenders

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 9 November 2011, Official Report, column 394W, on reoffenders, what plans he has to compare reoffending rates for offenders involved in the Intensive Alternative to Custody pilots with reoffending rates for similar offenders receiving custodial sentences of less than 12 months.

Crispin Blunt: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 9 November 2011, Official Report, column 394W and the answer given today to PQ 86485. The MOJ is still looking at the feasibility of conducting an evaluation of the IAC pilots to compare reoffending rates for IAC offenders with reoffending rates for similar offenders receiving custodial sentences of less than 12 months.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Uzbekistan on the withdrawal of UK military equipment from Afghanistan via rail; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Hammond: There has been no ministerial-level engagement with the Uzbek authorities on the subject of the withdrawal of UK military equipment from Afghanistan by rail.
	The highest level engagement by Ministry of Defence officials has been by the assistant chief of Defence staff (Logistic Operations), the two-star military officer responsible for the support of UK forces in Afghanistan and the efficient and cost-effective draw-down of those forces. As part of a wider programme of liaison with countries in central Asia, the present and previous incumbents of that post have visited Uzbekistan three times, in August 2010, March 2011 and November 2011, to conduct discussions with Uzbek officials, including the Defence Minister. These discussions have included the role that Uzbekistan might play in the draw-down of UK forces in Afghanistan but to date no decisions have been taken on the way forward.

Defence: Procurement

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many sole sourced procurement contracts have been awarded in the last 10 years; which companies were invited to tender; where those companies are based; and what the value of the contract was;
	(2)  how many sole sourced procurement contracts went over budget in each of the last 10 years; and by how much each such contract went over budget;
	(3)  what the cost to the public purse was of sole sourced contracts that went over budget in each of the last 10 years shown as a proportion of his Department’s (a) procurement budget and (b) budget.

Peter Luff: An estimated 59,700 new sole-source contracts were awarded between financial year 2001-02 to 2011-12, with a total estimated value of £53.6 billion. The other information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The detailed regulations governing the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) sole-source procurement arrangements are currently being reviewed by the MOD, and the noble lord, Lord Currie of Marylebone has recently published his independent review of these arrangements. The conclusions, which are currently under consideration, include as a key requirement improved collection and analysis of data and financial information on all our sole-source contracts. This will ensure that the MOD is better placed to respond to such requests in the future.
	The National Audit Office (NAO) undertakes an annual review of major Defence equipment projects, a proportion of which are sole-source. As an example, the NAO’s 2010 Major Projects Report included analysis of a number of sole-source contracts—Type 45 destroyer, Queen Elizabeth Class carrier and Lynx Wildcat helicopter. The NAO reports are available on their external website at:
	http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/1011/major_projects_report_2010.aspx

Departmental Official Hospitality

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what receptions and events have been hosted by his Department since May 2010, including those sponsored by a third party.

Andrew Robathan: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. We do not keep a central record of all receptions and events hosted by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), but they may include engagement with foreign governments, open days, air shows, military tattoos and commemorative occasions.
	Our current rules are that the offering of hospitality at any event funded by the MOD will be authorised only in exceptional cases.

Lynx Helicopters

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Lynx light attack helicopters he plans to convert from the battlefield reconnaissance version; and what the conversion cost will be for each such helicopter.

Peter Luff: We are planning to increase numbers of Wildcat helicopters being purchased from 62 to 66. The fleet will consist of three types: 28 Helicopter Maritime Attack, 30 Army Helicopter (AH), and eight Light Assault Helicopter (LAH). Four of the LAH aircraft were previously to have been AH type. The costs of conversion are still under consideration.

Rescue Services

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) rotary and (b) fixed-wing assets are tasked to combat search and rescue.

Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not currently dedicate rotary or fixed wing assets to the combat search and rescue role. Were a requirement to generate such a standing commitment be identified the MOD would allocate assets from its broad spectrum of capabilities according to the nature of the environment within which they were required to operate; this could be carried out by Merlin or Chinook helicopters. A combat recovery capability is in place in Afghanistan through the use of Chinook helicopters by the medical emergency response team.

Rescue Services

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many and which types of (a) rotary wing and (b) fixed-wing aircraft were deployed in the search and rescue operation for the Swanland; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether aircraft deployed in the search and rescue operation for the Swanland were carrying EOSDS facilities; whether EOSDS was used during the operation; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: Three RAF and one Royal Navy Sea King Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters were deployed in the search and rescue operation for the Swanland, during which both military and civilian assets were used. No RAF or Royal Navy fixed-wing aircraft were involved.
	All four Sea King helicopters were equipped with infra red turrets which were used during the operation as required. This provided an Electro-Optical Surveillance and Detection System (EOSDS) capability which transmits TV and infra-red video to the crew.

Carbon Emissions

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in (a) England, (b) each local authority area and (c) each parliamentary constituency received assistance under the carbon emissions reduction target scheme in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10, (iii) 2010-11 and (iv) since April 2011.

Gregory Barker: Data on the number of households in England, each local authority area and each parliamentary constituency, benefiting from cavity wall insulation and loft insulation under the carbon emissions reduction target scheme in each of the years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 can be downloaded from the following web address:
	http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/business/Business/Information/Homes-Energy-Efficiency-Database-HEED/CERT-reports-from-HEED
	This information is published by the Energy Saving Trust on behalf of DECC. Households will also have benefited from other measures promoted under CERT, including heating, lighting, appliances and subsidised DIY loft insulation, but there are no distributional data on these.

Community Energy Saving Programme

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in (a) England, (b) each local authority area and (c) each parliamentary constituency received assistance under the community energy saving programme in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) since April 2011.

Gregory Barker: The companies obligated under the community energy saving programme (September 2009 to December 2012) are not required to report on the number of households benefiting or where their schemes are located until after the programme ends in December 2012.
	However, the companies provide estimates to Ofgem of their progress towards meeting their obligations, which Ofgem publish annually. The first of these estimates to June 2011 indicated that 9,937 properties had been treated in England (this information is available only at a regional level):
	
		
			 Region Properties treated (to June 2011) 
			 North East 1,611 
			 North West 3,129 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 1,524 
		
	
	
		
			 West Midlands 1,912 
			 East Midlands 533 
			 East of England 193 
			 London 715 
			 South East 41 
			 South West 179 
			 Total 9,937 
		
	
	As CESP schemes take time to set up and complete there were no completed schemes in the period September 2009 to June 2010 and all these properties were treated in the period July 2010 to June 2011.
	The next estimate of CESP progress, including the period up to the end of 2011, will be published in May 2012.

Departmental Equality

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent steps his Department has taken to increase equality in his Department; and at what cost to the public purse.

Gregory Barker: DECC is an equal opportunities employer and we have a published statement stating that DECC is committed to treating all staff and eligible job applicants fairly and without discrimination. In addition, DECC has a Diversity and Equality Strategy and a published Single Equality Scheme that has an action plan on how the Department can embed both equality and diversity in the Department. Our strategy statement sets out the Department’s commitments. DECC aims to ensure that nobody is treated less favourably because of their: age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins religion or beliefs, employment status: for example, part-time staff should be treated the same as full-time employees.
	The Department has taken a number of steps in the last year that may lead to an increase in equality. Some of these steps have direct costs attributed to them.
	The Department has submitted its application to the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index in September which was at no cost.
	A half day disability awareness talk has been arranged to take place in December for all staff to increase the awareness of disabilities and how they can affect working practices at the Department. This was at a cost of £470.
	The Department has rolled out a diversity e-learning programme to all staff at a cost of £8,235. DECC has advertised Whitehall-wide development programmes for staff who are under-represented in senior positions. This financial year, 13 DECC staff have commenced one of these courses at a cost of £19,500.
	The Department ran an awareness session on disability for a group of senior staff at a cost of £2,796.

Electricity Generation

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what steps the National Grid has taken to validate the meter readings provided by short-term operating reserve aggregators;
	(2)  on how many occasions representatives of the National Grid have inspected the metering equipment of short-term operating reserve aggregators in the last year;
	(3)  on how many occasions the National Grid has sought penalty payments from short-term operating reserve aggregators for failing to meet their contractual requirements in the last year.

Charles Hendry: To monitor and despatch services from STOR providers, including aggregators, National Grid installs a Standing Reserve Despatch (SRD) system. This is connected to the reserve provider's metering equipment to allow the amount of reserve provided from the contracted site to be read each minute and communicated back to National Grid.
	The rules surrounding the provision of accurate metering signals by all STOR providers (including aggregators) are contained within a contractually enforced document known as the STOR Despatch Procedure(1). Through the rights and obligations placed upon STOR Providers in this document, National Grid has the right to gain physical access to ascertain the accuracy and adequacy of the metering equipment providing the metering signals and of the resultant data sent to the SRD system. In addition a STOR Provider is required by the STOR Despatch document to:
	(a) ensure that all metering systems comply with the relevant industry metering standards as set out in the Balancing and Settlement Code Codes of Practice;
	(b) ensure that all of those meters are kept in calibration; and
	(c) provide National Grid with copies of the meter calibration certificates confirming the same.
	Aggregators use their own technology to meter each sub-site and aggregate this information which is then fed into the SRD system. National Grid agrees the chosen methodology with each aggregator (which may vary depending on the combination of generation/demand reduction) and subsequently monitors the performance of aggregated sites using a combination of metering data fed into the SRD system and off-line metering data provided by the aggregator(2). The latest version of the standard contractual agreements for aggregators introduces terms to clarify that, should National Grid wish to discharge its rights to gain access to metering equipment for verification purposes, then given not less than five business days notice of such request, the aggregator has an obligation to provide such access.
	Government do not hold information on how many occasions representatives of National Grid inspect the metering equipment of STOR aggregators or sought penalty payments from STOR aggregators for failing to meet their contractual requirements. As the System Operator, National Grid is responsible for keeping the system in balance (including the procurement of balancing services) under the terms of its transmission licence and is not required to report this information to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne).
	(1)http://www.nationalgrid.com/NR/rdonlyres/297EB1F6-77EA-4AC2-A09A-FB8188A80D98/30804/STOR_Despaich Procedure_v13.pdf
	(2)http://www.nationalgrid.com/NR/rdonlyres/EF35E0EC-D7EC-4169-94FB-B09B484C21DF/49612/Generic_Aggregation_STOR_Framework_Agreement.pdf
	Published on 19 October 2011

Electricity Generation

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average price paid by the National Grid is for each megawatt of electricity it buys.

Charles Hendry: National Grid, as the System Operator, is responsible for keeping the system in balance, including the procurement of Balancing Services under the terms of its transmission licence.
	National Grid procures these services in order to ensure the security and quality of electricity supply across the GB Transmission System. National Grid is not required to report to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), so does not inform the Government of the average price paid for the electricity it procures.

Electricity Generation

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what information he has received from the National Grid on the auditing criteria it applies to its contracts with short-term operating reserve aggregators;
	(2)  what information he has received from the National Grid on the number of short-term operating reserve contracts that it has audited in the last year.

Charles Hendry: National Grid, as the System Operator, is responsible for keeping the system in balance, including the procurement of balancing services under the terms of its transmission licence. National Grid is not required to report to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne).

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff in his Department are assigned to work on (a) the Green Deal, (b) the Energy Company Obligation, (c) international climate change issues, (d) the Green Economy, (e) feed-in tariffs, (f) carbon capture and storage and (g) promoting the interests of energy consumers.

Gregory Barker: There are currently 57.6 staff working on the Green Deal, 16 staff on the energy company obligation, 48 staff on international climate change, 14 staff on feed-in tariffs, and 35.3 staff on carbon capture and storage. Many of DECC's policies, and the staff working on them, contribute towards the Green Economy and to promoting the interests of energy consumers.

Natural Gas: Exploration

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  when he plans to publish his Department's geomechanical study into the relationship between shale gas drilling and the seismic activity in the vicinity of Cuadrilla Resources Preese Hall-1 well on the Lancashire coast at Fylde in April and May 2011;
	(2)  what the terms of reference are for his Department's geomechanical study into the relationship between shale gas drilling and the seismic activity in the vicinity of Cuadrilla Resources Preese Hall-1 well on the Lancashire coast at Fylde in April and May 2011.

Charles Hendry: Following the seismic tremors experienced in Poulton-le-Fylde in Lancashire in April and May, DECC asked Cuadrilla to carry out a geomechanical study to look specifically at the geological and seismic properties of the rock strata and shale in and around Poulton-le-Fylde, and any linkages between the recent seismic tremors and hydraulic fracturing operations in the area. The study, which confirms a connection between the hydraulic fracturing at the Preese Hall-1 well and the seismic activity which took place on 1 April and 27 May 2011, was submitted to DECC, and published by the company, on 2 November 2011.
	No decision on the resumption of these hydraulic fracture operations will be made until the implications of this report, and of any further analysis which may prove necessary, has been fully considered, and appropriate practical measures have been approved by Ministers to minimise the risk of such events occurring again. Other key regulators will be consulted before any such decision is taken.

Nuclear Power

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what additional costs his Department will incur in implementing the recommendations in Dr Weightman's report on the implications for the UK nuclear industry of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

Charles Hendry: Nuclear safety is a top priority. The relevant recommendations from Dr Weightman's report will be implemented as part of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and any such associated costs to the Department will be borne by the overall Departmental budget. Any increase in costs for new nuclear power stations will be borne by the operators.

Ofgem: Fines

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many fines Ofgem has imposed in each of the last 10 years; and what the monetary value was of each fine.

Charles Hendry: The information requested is a matter for Ofgem. The chief executive of Ofgem will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in Libraries of the House.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2011, Official Report, column 616W, on feed-in tariffs, when he expects the second consultation on the comprehensive review to be published.

Gregory Barker: We intend to publish the second consultation on the comprehensive review in January 2012.

Billing

Jo Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of recent trends in the average length of payment terms by suppliers to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Mark Prisk: The Department does not hold data on the average length of payment terms agreed between suppliers and customers. There is no effective way of collecting and collating the enormous volume of formal and informal agreements that take place between suppliers and their customers every day across the UK.
	However, the Department has a long-standing partnership with the UK's leading business representative and finance organisations to develop a culture of prompt payment and our work with them suggests that the typical payment term offered by customers in the UK is 30 days net monthly—that is, 30 days following the end of the month in which the invoice is received.
	While we do not hold data on average payment terms, we do measure actual payment performance. The Department commissions Experian to provide data on customer payment performance each quarter. For payment by firms who are not in liquidation or receivership (and can therefore be considered to be live trading firms), data for the third quarter of 2011 (July-September) show that small and medium-sized firms (those with fewer than 250 employees) were paid on average 16.45 days beyond contract terms. This is half a day higher than the previous quarterly figure of 15.96 days. This is the first quarterly increase in this figure since the fourth quarter of 2010. However, the current level of late payment is still 0.2 days lower than the same period last year. This measure peaked during the recession in Q1 2009 at 20.3 days beyond term.
	Experian measures payment performance based upon the terms provided by the supplier in their invoice. We know that many suppliers assume a 30-day payment period while customer terms are typically 30 days net monthly. This might in part explain the apparent difference in supplier expectation and actual payment as recorded by Experian. To enable effective cash flow management it is therefore vital that suppliers agree payment terms in advance of supply to avoid unexpected and unplanned cash flow pressures—we believe advance agreement of payment terms does not happen in at least half of all UK transactions.

Business

Jo Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to improve cash flows for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Mark Prisk: Government understand the importance of managing cash flow and are determined to do everything they can to help business do this successfully. Transforming the longstanding culture of late payment requires a multi-faceted strategy to engage and educate business.
	Late payment legislation gives businesses a statutory right to claim interest from other businesses for the late payment of commercial debt, and where there are no pre-agreed payment terms, the legislation provides that the payment period is 30 days from the later of either delivery of goods or receipt of invoice. Further advice on this legislation and on claiming interest for late payments can be found at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file37581.pdf
	The Prompt Payment Code developed with the Institute of Credit Management (ICM) seeks to identify payment exemplars across both the public and private sectors and to codify good practice. Signatories to the code are required to pay within agreed terms and to communicate effectively with suppliers. As at 1 December 2011, nearly 1,060 organisations have signed up to the Prompt Payment Code. Further information on the code can be found at:
	http://www.promptpaymentcode.org.uk/
	We have also worked with the ICM to produce a series often checklists on all aspects of cash flow management, available at:
	http://www.creditmanagement.org.uk/bisguides.htm
	As at November 2011, there have been nearly 265, 000 downloads of the guides.
	It is also important that the public sector sets a strong example and central Government Departments now aim to pay 80% of undisputed invoices within five days. In October 2011, this Department paid 95.6% of its invoices within this timeframe. And to ensure the benefits of prompt payment to main contractors are felt through the supply chain, all Departments have included a clause in their contracts that requires main contractors to pay their suppliers within 30 days.

Business

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to penalise institutions who do not meet their widening participation obligations as defined in their access agreements.

John Hayes: It is a matter for the director of fair access to determine whether an institution has complied with the terms of its access agreement.
	Where the director decides that an institution has failed to meet the conditions of its access agreement he may impose a financial sanction (via the funding body) up to a maximum of £500,000 or refuse to renew the access agreement. He may also require restitution if students have been disadvantaged or commitments have not been honoured.
	The Government have committed to strengthen the Office for Fair Access (OFFA), so it can provide a more active and energetic challenge and support to universities and colleges. We will make significantly more resources available, increasing capacity up to around four times its original level, and equipping OFFA to use fully its powers to monitor and review access agreements.
	We are currently considering whether the director of fair access has the right powers, taking into account the responses to the White Paper and the technical consultation that followed. We will set out our plans in the draft Bill that we shall be presenting to Parliament next year.

Degrees

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Higher Education Funding Council for England on the future of degree-awarding powers.

John Hayes: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) continues to be actively involved at official level in meetings and discussions on the proposed reforms to higher education, including the future of degree awarding powers. For example, HEFCE was represented at two stakeholder meetings in September on the proposed regulatory framework as part of the Department's recent technical consultation, which ran until 27 October. These meetings included discussion of degree-awarding powers. HEFCE's own response to the consultation is available at:
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/reform/response.htm
	In addition, I met with the chief executive and the chairman of HEFCE on 18 November, to discuss various aspects of HEFCE's role in the future regulatory system.
	A quarterly-updated list of all BIS ministerial meetings with external organisations is available at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency/staff

Employment: Young People

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether 18 to 24 year old citizens of other EU member states will be eligible for the Youth Contract.

Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
	Support offered through each element of the Youth Contract will have its own eligibility requirements. EU citizens aged 18 to 24 are able to access the support on offer provided that they meet the relevant requirements.

Higher Education: Dartford

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students from Dartford constituency were accepted onto courses at (a) Oxford university and (b) the university of Cambridge in each of the last five years.

John Hayes: The information is not held centrally. UCAS hold this information but their policy is that for reasons of confidentiality they do not release figures for individual institutions where the cell counts for accepted applicants are low.

Higher Education: Greater Manchester

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students from Oldham East and Saddleworth constituency were accepted onto courses at (a) Oxford university and (b) the university of Cambridge in each academic year since 2001.

John Hayes: The information is not held centrally. UCAS hold this information but their policy is that for reasons of confidentiality they do not release figures for individual institutions where the cell counts for accepted applicants are low.

Insolvency

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many insolvencies were identified for further investigation in Official Receiver's offices in each of the last five years.

Edward Davey: The number of insolvencies identified for further investigation ("FI") in the last five years are:
	
		
			 Period in which FI decision made Cases identified for FI Total insolvencies 
			 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 7,970 69,227 
			 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 7,484 74,163 
			 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 5,518 79,498 
			 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011(1) 4,158 57,385 
			 1 April 2011 to 30 November 2011 2,179 28,036 
			 (1) Data for October 2010 not available. 
		
	
	Official Receivers deal only with Compulsory Liquidations and Bankruptcies and on average a further investigation decision is made within 56 days of an insolvency order.
	The number of cases identified for further investigation has been compared, in the table above, with the number of insolvencies dealt with for a corresponding period commencing two months prior to reflect the time taken to make the further investigation decision.
	Not all cases identified for further investigation result in criminal or civil proceedings as further inquiries can reveal satisfactory explanations or mitigating factors. The Insolvency Service periodically reviews its guidance and training to improve efficiency in terms of the number of cases which are marked as further investigation but do not result in either criminal or civil proceedings.
	The Insolvency Service introduced a new computer system in October 2010 and due to technical issues it is not possible to extract the data for October 2010 without disproportional costs being incurred.

Insolvency

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of trends in the number of (a) bankruptcy restriction orders and undertakings and (b) disqualification orders and undertakings obtained by the Insolvency Service in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: In respect of director disqualifications, the Insolvency Service plan range for 2011/12 is 1,250 to 1,350 which is broadly in line with previous years.
	In respect of bankruptcy and debt relief restrictions, the plan range for 2011/12 is 700 to 1,000 reflecting the significant fall in new bankruptcy case numbers.

Insolvency

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2011, Official Report, columns 95-96W, on insolvency, how many staff at each grade will be transferred to alternative offices as a result of implementation of the delivery strategy.

Edward Davey: The Insolvency Service’s delivery strategy aims to restructure the organisation to make it more able to respond flexibly to future volatility in the case numbers that it deals with.
	Staff will not, in the short term, be required to move office as a result of the implementation of the delivery strategy. It is being implemented in a virtual, i.e. non-physical, way, until at least 2014. The process by which the Insolvency Service moves to physical implementation of the delivery strategy, beyond 2014, is still being discussed and will form part of future consultations with staff.
	The Insolvency Service has, however, announced its intention to proceed to public consultations on the closure of its offices in Stockton, Bournemouth and Medway. This is part of its response to significant reductions in case volumes. The closures are also subject to funding being secured. It is intended that the staff and work of these offices would be merged with neighbouring offices.
	The current number of staff, identified by grade, in each of those offices is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  D3 D2 C2 C  1 L3 L2 L1 B3 B2 B1 A2 A1 Total 
			 Stockton 0 0 2 0 7 4 4 0 2 4 13 3 39 
			 Bournemouth 0 1 3 0 3 1 4 0 1 1 6 0 20 
			 Medway 0 1 3 0 6 3 1 0 1 3 12 4 34 
		
	
	The number of staff required in each office, in respect of the Official Receivers Services, part of the Insolvency Service, is a factor of how many cases the Insolvency Service receives. These have been declining, and are expected to decline further, and staffing complements are likely to be adjusted if this trend continues. This is a separate issue from the delivery strategy whose purpose is to deliver a new and more flexible operating model for the Insolvency Service.
	The delivery strategy does, however, anticipate further office closures/mergers that have not yet been identified. The Insolvency Service has announced a move towards a revised structure of eight Insolvency Service centre locations across England and Wales, with a network of around a further 17 Insolvency Service local office locations. In the longer term, this would reduce the total number of locations to about 25, some 10 fewer than now.

Insolvency: Northern Region

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2011, Official Report, columns 95-96W, on insolvency, how many staff at each grade are employed in each of the northern offices of the Insolvency Service; and how many will be employed in each such office following implementation of the delivery strategy.

Edward Davey: The Insolvency Service’s delivery strategy aims to restructure the organisation to make it more able to respond flexibly to future volatility in the case numbers that it deals with. This will change the current regional structure.
	The offices in the existing north region currently have the following staffing complements broken down by grade.
	
		
			  D3 D2 C2 C1 L3 L2 L1 B3 B2 B1 A2 A1 Total 
			 Newcastle 0 1 4 0 7 5 3 0 1 3 10 5 40 
			 Stockton 0 0 2 0 7 4 4 0 2 4 13 3 39 
			 Leeds 0 2 5 1 15 5 12 0 3 9 22 4 78 
			 Blackpool 0 1 4 0 9 4 10 0 1 3 15 6 53 
			 Manchester 3 6 24 6 27 9 7 0 6 3 32 4 127 
		
	
	
		
			 Liverpool 0 0 3 1 3 4 2 1 0 2 7 7 30 
			 Chester 0 0 2 0 5 2 7 0 2 3 10 3 34 
			 Stoke 0 1 4 0 5 2 4 0 2 5 25 1 49 
			 Hull 0 0 3 0 9 2 9 0 1 4 16 7 51 
		
	
	Staffing levels are not intended to change, in the short term or as a direct result of the implementation of the delivery strategy. It is being implemented in a virtual, i.e. non-physical, way, until at least 2014. The process by which the Insolvency Service moves to physical implementation of the delivery strategy, beyond 2014, is still being discussed and will form part of future consultations with staff.
	A possible exception to this is the Stockton office as the Insolvency Service has announced its intention to issue a public consultation on the closure of this office in 2013, subject to funding being secured. There may be further, as yet unidentified, office closures/mergers in the northern offices as the Insolvency Service has indicated that, in the longer term, it anticipates reducing its total number of locations to around 25, some 10 fewer than now.
	The number of staff required in each office, in respect of the Official Receivers Services, part of the Insolvency Service, is a factor of how many cases the Insolvency Service receives. The number of new cases has been declining, and is expected to decline further, and staffing complements are likely to be adjusted if this trend continues, including in the northern offices. This is a separate issue from the delivery strategy whose purpose is to deliver a new and more flexible operating model for the Insolvency Service.
	Accordingly, subject to these complementing issues, while at specific northern locations, the staffing numbers may change, and some locations may close, it is intended that, under the delivery strategy, the overall staffing levels across the northern offices would remain consistent.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to ascertain what has become of the letter from him to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr D. Wightman, which his Department sent on 17 October 2011, but which has not reached the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton.

Edward Davey: All letters from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to the House of Commons are delivered by Government Mail.
	I can assure the hon. Member that the letter would have been delivered in that manner.
	The movement of letters within the House of Commons is not within the control of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	A further copy of the letter of 17 October 2011 has been sent electronically and in hard copy to the right hon. Member's office.

Productivity

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the most recent industrial and manufacturing production figures; and what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department's policies on the levels of industrial production and manufacturing.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 12 December 2011
	The latest official figures for October 2011 show that manufacturing output fell by 0.7% in the three months to October 2011 compared with the previous three months, the first fall on this basis since October 2009. However is still 0.9% higher than the same period last year.
	We recognise that the overall economic position is very difficult given the legacy and the external environment but we are determined to promote recovery. In the Autumn Statement last week, the Government announced a wide-ranging package building on the programme of reforms set out in the Plan for Growth, including £5 billion in new commitments to improve UK transport and broadband networks, as well as steps to attract major private sector investment.

Scholarships

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to assess the use of the National Scholarship Programme by institutions in 2012-13.

John Hayes: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has commissioned CFE Research and Consultancy, an independent research and consultancy body, to undertake an evaluation of the National Scholarship Programme.
	The first phase of the project, running until early next year, will look at the set up of the programme by institutions, and the report will be published next spring. The second phase, which will include consideration of the first year of the programme, will survey both students and institutions, and will report in the autumn of 2013.
	The HEFCE will also monitor the targeting and take up of the awards through the annual returns that institutions make to the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 7 December 2011, Official Report, columns 330-1W, on third sector, 
	(1)  how much funding his Department provided to each organisation listed in 2010-11; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much funding was provided to the organisations listed by other Directorates in his Department in 2011-12; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how much funding his Department provided to (a) the Royal Society, (b) the British Academy, (c) the Royal Academy of Engineering, (d) the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network, (e) the British Science Association, (f) the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology, (g) the Design Council, (h) Natural England, (i) the UK Council for International Students, (j) Tate Britain, (k) the British Council, (l) the Royal Anniversary Trust, (m) the Raleigh International Trust (n) the Association of Commonwealth Universities, (o) the National Foundation for Education and (p) Royal Botanic Kew Gardens in 2010-11.

John Hayes: The following table lists the information held by the Department for 2010-11 and 2011-12 and supersedes the answer of 7 December 2011, Official Report, columns 330-31W. None of the bodies concerned receive direct departmental funding in 2011-12 other than through the Knowledge and Innovation Group.
	
		
			 £000 
			  2010-11 2011-12 
			 Royal Society 48,558 47,830 
			 British Academy 26,448 27,001 
			 Royal Academy of Engineering 12,826 12,634 
			 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network (STEMNET) 6,828 6,300 
			 British Science Association 1,526 1,530 
			 Engineering UK 350 350 
			 UK Resource Centre for Women in SET 2,469 500 
			 Design Council 5,540 5,312 
			 Natural England 365 — 
			 UK Council for International Students 300 150 
			 Tate Britain 291 — 
			 The British Council 285 204 
			 European University Institute 229 188 
			 College of Europe 213 46 
			 Royal Anniversary Trust 167 — 
			 Association of Commonwealth Universities 117 58 
			 National Foundation for Education 115 — 
			 Royal Botanic Kew Gardens 111 360

Universities

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make it his policy to require universities to have in place a policy on academic conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: The Government do not intend to put in place any new regulations on universities regarding the treatment of conflicts of interest. This issue is already addressed in a number of ways including grant funding terms and other governance arrangements in the university—although a number of institutions do bring these together in a single institution wide policy.

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities for what reason the need for political balance in respect of the composition of the Commissioners of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission was not included as an issue in the recent public consultation; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: Public appointments should be on the basis of merit, not political affiliation. As we set out in our consultation, we want to see a smaller board with stronger corporate skills and experience, gained in the private, voluntary and public sectors.

Fawcett Society: Finance

Karl McCartney: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities 
	(1)  what funding from the public purse has been allocated to the Fawcett Society in any future years for which figures are available;
	(2)  what funding the Fawcett Society received from the public purse in each of the last five years.

Lynne Featherstone: This information is not collected centrally, however, the Government Equalities Office (GEO) made two payments during 2008-09 in respect of publications amounting to £11,150.
	There are no future plans to fund the Fawcett Society.
	The Equality and Human Rights Commission is an arm’s length body; the following is based on information it has provided.
	The Equality and Human Rights Commission procured publication services from the Fawcett Society in 2010 to the value of £5,700.
	The Commission has allocated no future grant funding to the Fawcett Society.

Early Intervention Grant

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding he is providing to local authorities through the early intervention grant in financial year 2012-13.

Sarah Teather: CLG announced the provisional local government finance settlement on 8 December. This included revised figures for the indicative early intervention grant (EIG) allocations for 2012-13. The indicative EIG allocation for 2012-13 is £2,365,200,000.
	Information on individual local authorities indicative EIG allocations is available on the Department’s website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeopie/informationforprofessionals/a0070357/early-intervention-grant-frequently-asked-questions/
	These figures are still indicative and the allocations will be confirmed in February when the Department issues the 2012-13 EIG determination letter.

National Curriculum: Cybercrime

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if there are any plans to introduce the subject of cyber-security into the national curriculum.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 1 December 2011
	We aim to reform the National Curriculum so that it properly reflects the body of essential knowledge in key subjects, leaving teachers greater flexibility to use their professional judgment to design wider school curricula that best meet the needs of their pupils. Teachers will be able to use this increased flexibility to teach pupils about important topics such as internet safety.
	We will be announcing our initial proposals for the National Curriculum next year, following which there will be full public consultation before final decisions are made.

Pre-school Education

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what criteria his Department will use to determine eligibility for free nursery places for two year olds announced in the Autumn Statement;
	(2)  how many children he expects to participate in the scheme providing free early years entitlement to children aged two in each financial year to 2014-15;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the ability of local authorities to provide sufficient child care places to meet the demand for free early years entitlement for children aged two years;
	(4)  whether he will provide support to help local authorities increase local child care capacity to the levels needed to deliver free early years entitlement for children aged two years.

Sarah Teather: The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the Autumn Statement that the early education entitlement for two-year-olds will be expanded to cover around 260,000 children—around 40% of two-year-olds—by 2014-15. The Government intend to take a phased approach to the implementation of the new entitlement. The 20% most disadvantaged two-year-olds—around 130,000 children—will be eligible from September 2013. From 2014, the entitlement will be extended to 40%. Currently, around 20,000 two-year-olds access free early education places.
	We are already consulting on proposals for eligibility criteria for the first phase of implementation from September 2013. We propose that two-year-olds who meet the criteria for free school meals, or who are looked after, should be eligible for the entitlement. We will publish further proposals in due course about eligibility criteria to reach 40% of two-year-olds from 2014, focusing on the children and families that need them most. We will seek the views of parents, early education providers and local authorities on how this can best be achieved.
	In recognition of the costs involved in reaching around 40% of two-year-olds, the Government have announced additional funding. A further £68 million has been included in the Early Intervention Grant (EIG) in 2012-13, in addition to the £223 million that was previously announced in December 2010. This funding is available to local authorities to build towards the new entitlement. Many are already using this funding to offer places to the two-year-olds who need them most, as well as to build capacity locally and support quality improvements. The early years market is dynamic and diverse, and we expect that it will respond positively to the increase in demand that the new entitlement will create.
	We are working with local authorities, providers, and their representative organisations to support them in delivering the entitlement. The Government have set aside £4 million in the current financial year for 18 local authorities who are testing new approaches in providing free early education for two-year-olds. There will also be £5 million funding available in 2012-13 to support local authorities' delivery of two-year-old places. The Department for Education will discuss how this resource can best be deployed with local government partners and other sector representatives.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will ensure that the funding per pupil in voluntary-aided schools is comparable to the funding per pupil in an academy school in the same local authority area if the local authority central spend equivalent element of an academy's general annual grant is disregarded.

Nick Gibb: We aim to fund Academies at the same level as equivalent schools in the same local authority area, and the Academies funding system is designed to achieve this.
	Academies' funding agreements specify that their funding should be equivalent to their maintained peers. They are therefore funded according to the local funding formula which applies to maintained schools, including voluntary aided schools. There may be legitimate differences within this formula in recognition of voluntary aided schools' specific responsibilities and costs.

Schools: Rural Areas

George Freeman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has any plans to review the use of the Acorn funding formula for schools in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: On 19 July 2011, the Department for Education published “A Consultation on School Funding Reform: proposals for a fairer system”. The consultation sought views on the components and indicators of a potential new funding formula for schools. The consultation proposed using Free School Meals data to target money to deprived pupils rather than an area based measure of deprivation. The consultation closed on 11 October and the Department is currently considering the responses. Further information on the reform of school funding will be made available in due course.

Specialised Diplomas: Environment

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reason the Specialist Diploma in Environmental and Land-based Studies has been withdrawn.

Nick Gibb: Following consultation this summer, Ofqual is revising the regulatory arrangements for diplomas to allow awarding organisations to make their own decisions about whether to offer it as a qualification, based upon demand from schools and colleges. As a result, some awarding bodies have chosen to withdraw from the full diploma. Some awarding bodies will continue to offer the Principal Learning components as qualifications in their own right. These high quality vocational qualifications can support progression outside of the framework of the diploma, and can be combined with other qualifications to meet the needs of a broad programme of study.

Afghanistan: Females

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will increase support for development programmes in Afghanistan that promote women's rights.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) is placing women and girls at the heart of its development programme, and is already supporting women's rights in Afghanistan. During my recent visit to Kabul I launched the Strengthening Afghanistan's Civil Society Project ('Tawanmandi'—'Strengthening' in Dari). Jointly funded with Denmark, Norway and Sweden, Tawanmandi will provide grants to civil society organisations across Afghanistan to help them to engage more effectively with the Government and hold it to account. Human rights, particularly women's rights, and access to justice will be major themes.
	In addition, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides support to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights Support Unit at the Ministry of Justice. The FCO also provides support to paralegal services working with women and girls in adult prisons and juvenile detention centres.

Conciliation Resources

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect on the work undertaken by Conciliation Resources in Abkhazia of Russia recognising Abkhazia as an independent state; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: I have been asked to reply.
	Conciliation Resources has been working in Georgia since the mid 1990s. They continue to work on projects which are designed to improve the prospects for peace by connecting people across the conflict divide, challenging existing prejudices, and working to tackle the root causes of the conflict. These projects are consistent with the work of the internationally mediated Geneva Talks process. The work undertaken by Conciliation Resources in Abkhazia, Georgia promotes conflict resolution between Abkhazia and the rest of Georgia, and in our assessment has had no bearing on Russia's decision to recognise Abkhazia as an independent state. The UK fully supports Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Conciliation Resources

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he has received reports that the work of Conciliation Resources is going beyond its remit in Abkhazia; and if he will withdraw funding from Conciliation Resources if that is the case.

David Lidington: I have been asked to reply.
	Conciliation Resources and other organisations like it are undertaking valuable work to build the foundations for future conflict resolution in Georgia. The Government of Georgia has raised the work of Conciliation Resources in Georgia with us. We have received no reports that show that the work of Conciliation Resources is going beyond its remit in Abkhazia, Georgia. We have no plans to amend funding levels.

Departmental Catering

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether food and catering services in (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible plan to implement calorie labelling on menus and display boards.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development's two United Kingdom office staff restaurants have operated under contract to Mitie Technical Facilities Management since December 2010 on a non-subsidised basis.
	Mitie Catering Services are currently working towards providing calorie labelling at the point of choice for standard food and drinks items. Prior to this information being displayed on menu boards for daily specials, Mitie Catering Services are testing the most effective way for this to be implemented into the business on such items as pre-packaged food products.

Departmental Catering

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the food and catering services in (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible are taking to ensure the countries of origin of foods are labelled on its menus and display boards.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development's (DFID) two United Kingdom office staff restaurants have operated under contract to Mitie Technical Facilities since December 2010 on a non-subsidised basis.
	Mitie Catering do not currently display the country of origin on DFID's staff restaurant menus and display boards. However, the country of origin information is readily available along the supply chain and all products can be traced back to source.

Departmental Secondment

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what secondments there have been to his Department from (a) industry and (b) the third sector since May 2010; what the (i) purpose and (ii) duration is of each secondment; and whether each secondment was to a policy development role.

Alan Duncan: From May 2010 the Department for International Development has:
	(a) Two secondments from industry, both in policy development roles and are both short-term.
	Duration October to December 2011
	(b) Six secondments from the third sector all to a policy development roles;
	Four senior research fellows to work alongside the integrated policy and research teams. Duration for two years from March 2011.
	Two social development advisers to work on Violence against Women. Duration for one year from October 2011.

Departmental Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many and what proportion of questions for ordinary written answer received a substantive response within (a) 10, (b) 20, (c) 30 and (d) more than 30 sitting days in the 2010-12 session to date.

Alan Duncan: The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide this information to the Committee at the end of the session. Statistics relating to Government Department's performance for the 2009-10 parliamentary session were previously provided to the committee and are available on the Parliament website.
	Between May 2010 and November 2011 the Department for International Development (DFID) answered 1,499 ordinary written parliamentary questions within 10 sitting days and 90 within 20 sitting days. No ordinary written parliamentary questions took more than 20 sitting days to answer.

Development Aid

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has received on the Busan agreement on aid effectiveness.

Andrew Mitchell: The three main UK priorities of results, transparency and fragility are now enshrined in the Busan outcome document which can be found here:
	http://www.aideffectiveness.org/busanhlf4/en/component/content/article/698.html
	Further to this, the UK played a central role in developing an outcome document that could be supported by emerging economies including China, India and Brazil.
	I have outlined in more detail the outcomes of Busan in my written ministerial statement dated 7 December 2011, Official Report, column 30WS.
	I have engaged with a wide variety of actors throughout the process including other donor countries, emerging economies, eg China during my visit just before Busan, developing country leaders, the UKAN (UK Aid Network) group of NGOs during the conference and more recently with BOAG (British Overseas Aid Group) upon my return. This was with the intention that as broad a set of stakeholders could sign up to the Busan Outcome Document as possible.

World Toilet Day

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he took to raise awareness of World Toilet Day 2011.

Alan Duncan: In the run up to World Toilet Day, the Under-Secretary of State for International Development, my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr O'Brien), visited a sanitation project in Bangladesh to publicise the need for strong support in providing access to clean water, improved sanitation facilities and better hygiene practices.
	These initiatives complement DFID's commitments to making sure 15 million more people have access to clean drinking water, 25 million more people have access to improved sanitation facilities and 15 million more people are reached by hygiene promotion.
	DFID country offices were also involved in activities to promote sanitation on World Toilet Day. For example DFID's Head of Office in Sierra Leone participated in an event organised by the Ministry of Health, the Urban WASH Consortium and UNICEF at a school in the east of the capital, Freetown.